Crazy risk

Last night Lucy fell. It was from this ledge of the mezzanine level of my loft about 10 feet up onto the wood floor.

I knew it would happen. She's tempted fate at least once a day over the almost nine months I've lived here. She usually takes a crazier risk by walking along the top of the narrow iron railing about three feet higher. I can't stop her. I've tried.

But Lucy's a cat and doesn't understand risk. People do.

People take crazy risks all the time. Not long before Lucy's fall, I left a couple of friends after having a beer with them at a bar. With the short drive home ahead, they each had a shot and at least two drinks before I left, and they never eat. I suspect the drinking and driving thing will happen with them and way too many people more over these holidays.

People take crazy risks doing other things. Carrying weed on airplanes, buying and selling drugs illegally and skipping out on taxes are just a few I've seen happen. People surprise me with the illegal or unethical schemes they try to get away with at work too. They always involve taking home more money by doing less work. 

Most of them know it's wrong, but the longer they take these crazy risks, the more Teflon they feel.

"I'm still here," they say. "It hasn't caught up with me yet."

Lucy has done this crazy balancing act dozens of times over almost a year. But this time, there was a loud bang, and she did not fall on her feet. Luckily there was no blood and nothing seemed broken. She was just dazed and confused - likely with a killer headache - and hid under the bed for about an hour then had a good night's rest. This morning she seems fine and more lovable than usual. Lucy's just a cat, but I hope she's learned her lesson and won't do it any more.

Remember, it only takes once.

Love to the single girls,
Addison

P.S. It's been four days and she hasn't been back up there.

Roommates

Lots of single people have roommates. Sometimes it even works.

I haven't had a platonic roommate since college, and there are volumes of stories. One roommate used to entertain us when she'd sleepwalk and talk about the dinosaurs. Eyed wide open. She graduated and moved out while I was away before summer classes started. When I came back, she had taken my silverware. She shipped the set back but was convinced it was hers. Now she's an attorney for a large metropolitan county.

Okay, my roommate issues were nothing compared with some people's nightmares. And keep in mind it's not just the roommates, but also their friends and lovers. I don't know a situation as bad as the movie Single White Female, but there are some pretty bad ones.

One friend just found out his roommate's ex has been spending on his debit card. Surprise! She's almost wiped out his account. This was after he bailed her out of jail in the middle of the night and god knows what else.

Another friend decided to share a place with one of her best friends. But the friend never paid rent or bills. She didn't cut down on her partying, but for some reason she was never motivated to look for a job. Then some nights, my friend would come home from work and find herself locked out with the keyless deadbolt. Other nights, she'd check the wallet in the strange jeans on the living room floor to find out who was in her apartment. She's living alone now and loving it.

Roommates can be great fun too. They share expenses, help take care of pets and keep the place from getting lonely. The good ones tend to get new job or fall in love and move out. Then you're alone again. One friend is so upset he and one of his roommates now have different addresses you'd think it was a teenage breakup.

These problems and bigger ones also happen when you fall in love and move in together. Some people decide to share a place because one doesn't have anywhere else to go. We're more likely to overlook the problems when love's involved. Don't overlook them. If they can't be a good roommate, forget everything else.
Another guy I know is about to move into an apartment by himself for the first time in a long while. He's talking about turning his new place into a naked zone, and I'm thankful I don't have a view into his windows.

You can certainly be freer in your own place. Decorate how you want. Keep the place tidy or trashed to your liking. Invite whomever you want over. Whenever. I recommend it.
Love to the single girls,
Addison

Thankfully unfamous

I opened my web browser today and saw a story Demi Moore Parties with Lenny Kravitz in Miami on Same Night as her Boy-Toy Makeout Session. After reading the story, I'm still not certain which one is supposedly her "new beau." As a single girl, I am certain that I'm thankful most people don't give a crap who I am.

Most of us don't have a paparazzi like Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears - some of Hollywood's famous single girls. Well, infamous might work better for some. E! is now tracking Demi's party going. Wonder if the reporter who got that assignment is enjoying it.

If the paparazzi followed me tonight, they would have seen me partying in three places and hugging more than a dozen girls and guys. They would have overheard how my friends' and my first kisses happened and our notorious losing our virginity stories. They likely would've snapped pics of the very interesting lap dance a guy performed for me. Yes, in my lap. He said he liked my leopard-print tights. And I was joking around with another guy about how many times people have introduced us. We decided to make up new names every time that happened. His name for me was Sex Slave. The paparazzi might have had fun with that one. I wonder which one would have been my "new beau."

The Hollywood rags would eat up some of the topics on this blog. But they're not interested if the people in the blog don't  register on their fame meter. Or maybe they do. Only I know that.

Love to the single girls,
Addison 

Reality

The last few days I've been taking life easier. Staying up late and sleeping in. I've spent more time shopping, relaxing and having fun than working. And the weather cooperated.

I saved up for this mini break - time and money - and it was worth it.

Now it's back to the real world. Waking up earlier and not staying up so late. Doing work for my clients that they really should do for themselves. Back to the exercise routine and eating better until my next mini break.

It's also holiday party season - a time I'm starting to love again. If I know there's something fun to look forward to, it helps me get through the bleh work.

There's just half of the week ahead and always something fun around the corner.

Love to the single girls,
Addison

 

Under the watchful eye of big sis

My friend and I both had bizarre big sister childhood experience flashbacks today. Actually it was our big sisters' guys. And neither of us are Kardashians.

My friend's sister decided to take her to a pasture in the country where the local high school kids went to drink and smoke weed. The big sis decided her baby sister would drink anyway, so she wanted her to have her first drink together. But while they were there, the college-aged guy my friend's sister really liked secretly kissed both of them. My friend was only 14.

And I had my own big sister story. Our family lived in Europe when I was in high school and she was in college. She took classes at the local university and met a handsome 27-year-old graduate assistant from South America. They dated for months and, although she never told me, I suspect he was the first man she ever had sex with.

Before we returned home to the U.S., I went with her to his place to say goodbye. She made a quick run in his house and left me outside by the car with him. He put his arms around me and said what a beautiful young woman I had grown up to be.

Then his tongue was in my mouth.

My eyes must've been huge when my sister walked back out. This guy started a political party and ran for president of Costa Rica three times. He wasn't successful at that either.

My friend nor I ever told our sisters what happened - when we were 14 and 17 or today as adults. And we're guessing lots of other girls have big secrets from their big sisters too.

Love to the single girls,
Addison